Union minister Smriti Irani gave a loud and clear call to end the wicked practice of female foeticide and celebrate the birth of girl child.

It is unfortunate that in a country like India where girls are worshipped as 'Devi', girls feel insecure, she said.

Addressing more than 1,350 girls who demonstrated their self-defense techniques under mission sahasi organized by ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), she said: "No matter what a girl wears or which family she belongs to, respect is her birthright."

More than 8,000 school and college girls got registered in 208 campuses for self-defense training.